Method and apparatus for vibrating concrete columns

ABSTRACT

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING A LONG SLENDER VERTICAL COLUMN OF FRESHLY PLACED CONCRETE CHARACTERIZED BY LOWERING AN ELONGATED ROD HAVING A VIBRATOR AT THE UPPER END THEREOF DOWN INTO THE WET CONCRETE.

March 16, 1971. F. M. FULLER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING CONCRETE COLUMNS Filed Nov. 25, 1968 www United States Patent O 3,570,258 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATING CONCRETE COLUMNS Frank M. Fuller, Washington Township, Bergen County,

NJ., assignor to Raymond International, Inc., New

York, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 778,521 Int. Cl. E02d 5/38 U.S. Cl. 61-53.52 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for vibrating a long slender vertical column of freshly placed concrete characterized by lowering an elongated rod having a vibrator at the upper end thereof down into the wet concrete.

This invention relates to method and apparatus for forming piles, and more particularly to method and apparatus for vibrating and compacting a long slender vertical column of freshly placed concrete.

Heretofore, attempts have been made to vibrate cast-inplace concrete piles by employing a vibrating head which was kept at or just below the level of the concrete. The vibrating and pouring of the concrete was done at the same time, thereby extending the pouring time. The power source was connected to the vibrating head by a flexible hose or electric cable and in long lengths of piles the cornbination became heavy and difficult to handle properly. The vibrating head tended to bury itself in the concrete and could not be extracted. Frequently, when attempts were made to pull the vibrator out, the hose or cable would break, thereby losing the head and a portion of the hose or cable in the pile concrete. Attempts were made to eliminate the weight problem by handling the vibrator with a crane, but this resulted in giving the operator no feel for what he was doing. In addition, it Was almost impossible to direct such an operation by visual observation and hand signals. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the prior art problems above discussed.

Briefly, my invention resides in a new and improved method of vibrating a long slender column of freshly placed concrete. While the concrete is still in a wet condition, an elongated rod having a vibrator, which may include adjustable eccentric Weights, at the upper end thereof is lowered down into the column and vbrated. As a final step, the rod is withdrawn. The vibrating force can be made 100% vertical or 100% horizontal, or any combination thereof, by adjusting the eccentric weights on the vibrator.

My invention also includes the apparatus for vibrating a long slender column of freshly placed concrete including a vibrator, an elongated rod having one end mounted on said vibrator, and means for inserting and withdrawing the other end of the rod in a concrete column before the concrete has set.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject of the claim appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the design of other struc tures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a Vertical sectional view of a pile shell positioned in a hole in the ground;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the pile shell filled with concrete;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing an elongated rod having a vibrator at the upper end thereof lowered down into said pile shell after it is filled with concrete; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 1-3, but showing the elongated rod withdrawn from the pile shell and concrete.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, as shown in FIG. l, an elongated hole 10 has been formed in the ground 12 by any suitable means known in the art and a pile shell 14 inserted therein. Actually, the shell may be driven into the ground to form the hole, or with certain soil conditions the hole may be drilled into the ground and the shell dispensed with.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the hole or the shell 14 is then filled with concrete 16 from a supply source, as at 17. Next, as seen in FIG. 3, an elongated rod is lowered into the hole while the concrete 16 is still in its wet or prehardened condition. This rod may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as steel, for example. As the rod 18 is lowered into the hole, it is vibrated by means of a vibrator 20 attached to the upper end thereof. This vibrator may be of any suitable type and the vibrating force may be made vertical or 100% horizontal or any combination thereof. Adjustment of the vibrating force is generally done by adjusting the eccentric Weights in a manner known in the art. The variation of the vibration is for the purpose of obtaining optimum density and mixture of the concrete.

The elongated rod 18 and vibrator 20 are mounted on suitable equipment such as the boom 22 of a service crane 24, for example. Subsequently, the rod 18 is withdrawn, as seen in FIG. 4. As the rod is withdrawn, it is vibrated by means of the vibrator 20. It will be appreciated that 'several passes may be made, if desired, for purposes of providing additional conditioning of the concrete. When several passes are made, it may be desirable to decrease the depth on each succeeding pass.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide an improved method of vibrating a long slender concrete column which is superior in simplicity, economy and efiiciency as compared to prior art such methods.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after study of this specification, Will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of forming a pile comprising the steps of forming an elongated hole in the ground cased with a pile shell, filling said shell with concrete and thereafter lowering an elongated rod having a vibrator at the upper end thereof down into said hole filled with wet concrete, said rod extending substantially the entire length of said hole, vibrating said rod while being lowered into said hole and continuing vibrating said rod after lowering while maintaining said pile shell in place, `and then withdrawing said rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,865,652 7/1932 Upson (S1-53.64

JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner 

